eric, i recommend to you what i have which is the QS8v3 for surrounds and the M2v3 for surround back. for surrounds (sides) nothing is gonna generate the gigantic sized surround field (which gives you that perfect surround effect)that your gonna get from the Q's. i have a 7.1 system and the setup i mentioned is incredible and i'm glad i went that way and will recommend it to anyone wanting to go 7 channels.

I would still recommend trying the QS's as they are the better speaker for surround duty, but I would recommend the M2 if you must go with a direct firing speaker. The M3's are not as good with the midrange which is where a surround should excel, IMO.

Eric, I'd also suggest that you use the QSs at least for the side surrounds. I wonder if your preference for direct firing is in comparison to dipole surrounds. If so, note that the QSs aren't dipoles; all the drivers operate in phase. They're a variation of direct firing which results in much more spaciousness and to a considerable extent combines the best aspects of monopole and dipole surrounds.

If you have enough room(say 7-8')between the listening position and the back surrounds for the monopole speakers(most likely M2s)to disperse their sound, they can work well, but even in that situation QSs wouldn't be inappropriate.